Welding machine



Jm e, 1933.

H. s. HOLMES WELDING MACHINE Filed April 18, 1928 8 Sheets-Sheet lffbnvfs.

June 6, 1933. y H. s. HOLMES 1,913,029

' WELDING MACHINE Filed April 18, 192e 8 she'ets-sneet 2 vJune 6, 1933,H. s. HoLMl-:sv

WELDING MACHINE.

Filed April 18, 1928 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 v uw@ H. s. HOLMES WELDING MACHINEJune 6,' 1933.

Filed April 18, 1928 8 Sheets-'Sheet 4 June 6, 1933. H. s. HQLMEs1,913,029

' w N 01mm File 18.11928 8 sheets sheet 5 June 6, 1933.- H. s. HOLMES y1,913,029

WELDING MACHINE Filed April 18', 1 928 8 sheets-shee't 6 Summum@ l([2Q-m15 gol/1155'.

June 6, 1933. H. s. HOLMES. 1,913,029

WELDING MACHINE F'iled April 18, 1928 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Snom/Lto@ June1933.

H. s.. HOLMES] WELDING MACHINE EiiedlApril 1e, 1928 8 Sheets-Sheet 8Patented June 6, 1933 naar s. noms, o r inrw Your, 1r. Y.,

F NEW You Anuman. mea April 1s,

The improved machine is designed especially, though not solely, for malng comparatively large butt welds and turmng out the welded articles ata high rate 'of producy l tion witha smallamount of labor.

The accom anying drawings illustrate embodiments o vthe invention. l

Fig. 1 is a pers ctive of a' welded brake shoe 'for automobi es forwhich the (particu- 1 lar machine illustrated has been esigned 'andused;

Figs. 2r and 3 are similar views of the segments before welding;

Fig. 4'is a front e evation of the welding 15 machme;

Fig. 5 is a left side elevation thereof;

Fig. 6 is a plan of the work carrier and operating mechanism, with adjacentparts in section;

Fig. 7 is a plan of a pick-out device for removing the work from thecarrier;

Figi 8 is a front elevation of part/of the pick-out device, the viewbeing in the direction of the arrow 8, Fig. 7; v

Fig. 9 lis an elevation of another part in the direction of the line 9,Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a section from front to back through the transformer andelectrodes;

Fig. 12 is a diagram of electrical connections;

Fig. 13 is a front elevation of another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 14 is a right hand side elevation of the same;

Fig. 15 is a lan of the work carrier of the same and t e pick-outmechanism, the adjacent parts in section;

Fig. 16 is a vertical section through the electrodes and adjacent partson the 'line 16-16,Fig. 15.

Fig. 17 1s a view likel Fig. 9 of another pick-out device. l

45 The machine is designed /to employ the Murray methodpof butt weldingin which a current of extremely high amperage is' passedv across thejoint for a very brief interval (measured generally in fractions of asecond) and the parts are pressed together joint 4, Fig. 1.

- also good yin each case to serve as a deoxi izer.

ENT, oFFlca ASSIG'NOE, BY mE ASSIGNMENTS:D T0

IETBOPDLITAN ENGmEBmG OOIPLQY, OF YORK, N. Y., A. CORPORATION wnLDnmmelanin 1988. Serial I0. 870,851.

munite them. see Reissue Patent No. 15,-

Each of the segments is of channel shape incross section 'and curved in`its length with holes in the web and a flan e extending nearly aroundits periphery. he edges of the flanges of the two segments are arranged'in contact andwelded together along the Fig. 11 shows a mary winding 5about an iron core 6' surrounded by a secondary `consisting of a coppercasting 7. The upper part of the secondary is split to form two les 8and 9 in the form of horizontal she ves. The shelf 8 carries switchblades 10 adapted to be engaged b corresponding blades 11 on the upper eectrode holder 12 when the latter is lowered, andto be disengaged whenit is raised.k The holder 12 has a recess` 13 to receive an electrodewhich in turn has a recess on its under face fitting the top of theintended work.

On the opposite terminal 9 of the secondary casting there is carried `adial or turntable 14. This is keyed to a hollow shaft 15 passingdownward through the shelf 9. On top of the shelf is a circular bearingplate 16. Fastened on the under side of the table is a similar bearingplate 17 with a fiange surrounding the plate 16 t0 guide the table inits rotary movement.

The table has a number of recesses 18 in its upper face to receiveelectrodes which are recessed to fit the under side of the work. Tosecure ood electrical conductivity and aring qualities, the discs orplates 16 and 17 may be made'of different kinds of phosphor bronze; one,for example, bein of 80` arts copper, 10 tin and 10 lead, an -the ot erof 88 arts copper, 1()` tin and 2fzinc, with enougii hosphorus Thetransformer vwith a prielectrode holders 12 and 14 are preferably madeof copper, as are also the electrodes.

These parts of the structure have to be designed to carryextraordinarily large currents. The table alone weighs more than a ton,which will give an idea of the quantity of copper in the machine, and ofthe importance of having the plates 16 and 17 of metal having goodbearing qualities combined with good electrical conductivity.

The table carries eight electrodes 19 (Figs. 6 and 7) each in one of therecesses 18. The shaft 15 is indexed or turned intermittently throughone-eighth of al revolution, to brin the lower electrodes (loaded withthe work? in turn under the upper electrode, whereupon the latter ismoved downward to perform the welding and then lifted and held up whilethe table rotates through the next ste A The intermittent movement isobtained through a Geneva stop mechanism at .the lower end of the shaft15. This is a common movement and requires no detailed showing. Theshaft carries a slotted star wheel 20. A rotating crank 21 engages theslots in succession, moving into the slot, turning the star wheel andshaft one-eighth of a revolution and then moving Aout of the slot. Thestar is then held stationary until the crank 21 completes its rotationand enters the next slot to give the vparts another turn. The crank ismounted on a short shaft 22 which has at its lower end a spur gear 23meshing with a gear 24 on a short shaft 25. The gear 24 in turn isdriven by a gear 26 on the lower end of a shaft 27 which at its upperend has a bevel gear 28 driven by a similar gear 29 on the projectingend of the crank shaft 30.

The crank shaft is driven by an overhead motor 31 transmitting itsmotion through pinion 32 to gear 33 on overhead' shaft 34 and thencethrough pinion 35 to gear 36 on the crank shaft. The motion istransmitted through cranks 37 and links 38 to a slide 39 moving invertical guides 40.

The slide or plunger 39 carries a supplemental plunger 41 which on itsunder side supports the upper electrode carrier 12. The plunger 41 isarranged to slide upward in guiding grooves in the side portions of theplunger 39 and is pressed downward to its lower limit, shown in Fig. 4,by springs 42 bearing at opposite ends against the respective plungers.

Assuming the work to be in place, the crank shaft lowersthe two plungersuntil the upper electrode bears on the work. This will close theswitches 10 and 11 of the secondary circuit of the transformer. T heprimary circuit will remain o n for a time. The continued movement willcompress the springs 42 and hold the work pieces together under suchspring pressure.

pleted by a rigid pressure or During this movement the primary circuitwill be closed by a control switch to pass the welding current acrossthe joint. The continued movement will bring the lower edge 43 ofthemain plunger against the top 44 of the supplementary plunger and willthus apply a rigid pressure to force the heated edges of the worktogether, at which time the welding current is automatically stopped byopening the primary circuit. The weld is thus started under the yieldingpressure of the sprin 42 and comlow from the crank shaft.

The control ofthe current is illustrated in Fig. 12. On the shaft 27there is mounted a disc 45 of fiber or other insulating materialcarrying a brass ring 46 and sector 47. A brush 48 rests on the ring andanother brush 49 rests onthe sector 47 so as to make contact and comlete the circuit during a part ofthe revo ution of the shaftcorresponding to the length of the sector.

The brush 48 is connected to one terminal of a source of electricsupply, indicated at 50, the opposite terminal of which leads throughthe coil of a magnet 51 to the brush 49. The alternating current supplycomes from the terminals 52 and 53. The terminal 52 is connected to oneend of the primary winding 5 of the transformer, of which the oppositeend leads through a conductor 54 to a switch 55 which is normally heldopen by a spring 56 andy which closes against a contact 57 which isconnected to the terminal 53.

As long as the contact is maintained between thei sector 47 and thebrush 49, the magnet 51 holds the switch 55 of the primary circuitclosed, and the welding current is maintained. When the sector 47 passesbeyond the brush 49, the switch 55 opens and the welding current isdiscontinued.

The details of the electrical equipment are not illustrated. They ma bearranged in various wa s and mounte on various arts of the mac ine. Forexample, there is illustrated in Figs. 4-and 5 a sultable location forthe disc 45 on the vertical shaft 27.

The work may be introducedv into thc lower electrodes by hand and thewelded product removed by a hand tool, such as a pair of tongs.Preferably, however, I provide an automatic pickout mechanism. Such amechanism is illustrated in Figs. 7 to 10. It may be driven from theshaft 25. A bracket 58, mounted on the upright 59, carries a verticalshaft 60 which has a pinion 6l on its lower end driven by a gear 62 onthe top of the shaft 25. Mounted to rock about the shaft 60 ,is abracket having a tubular portion 63 with an arm 64 at itslower endcarrying a pin with a roller 65. entering a groove in a cam 66 whichcarries a gear 67, the cam and gear being on a vertical shaft mounted inan arm 68 projecting from the fixed bracket 58.

The arm 68 carries an intermediate pinion 69 meshing with the gear 67and with a driving pinion 70 on the shaft 60.

The tubular part 63 vhas at its upper end an extension of the angularshape shown in Fig. 7 comprising a portion 71 and a second portion 72,.providing bearings for shafts 73 and 74 which carry meshing bevel gears75 and 76 on their ends. The shaft 7 3 has on its forward end a bevelpinion 77 driven by a pinion 78 onthe upper end of the vertical shaft60. The arm 72 of the swinging bracket carries at its forward end avertical extension 79 carrying one of the hubs for the shaft 74 and adownward extension 80; these extensions carrying vertical guide ribs 81and 82 in line with each other.

As the vertical shaft 60 is driven, therefore, the cam will be rotatedand will swing the bracket carrying the shaft 74 from the position ofFig. 7 to a position clearl of the` dial. The shaft -74 is at the sametime continuously rotated. On the front of the arm 72 and having asliding engagement with the .guides 81 and 82 there is a carried plate83 which carries the hooks or fingers 84 designed to enter holes 85 inthe work and then come together as in Fig. 9 and lift it out of itsrecess in the dial, swing it clear and then release it.

Thefingers. 84 are pivoted to the lower part of the carrier 83 and havesegmental toothed extensions 86 meshing together to synchronize the twofingers. Each finger has also an outward arm 87 and the outer ends ofthese arms are connected to eachy other by means of links 88, thepivoted ends of which rest on a cam 89 carried on the end of a crank pin90 which is in the end of a crank 91 on the end of the shaft 74. Thecrank pin 90 carries a roller` which passes through a slot 91 in thecarrier 83 land travels freely therein.

Starting from the position of Fig. 9, as the shaft 74 rotates the crankpin 90 lifts the plate 83 and the fingers and the welded` brake shoe 3from the position illustrated in full lines to that shown in dottedlines, so that it clears the dial plate. Shortly after the commencementof the lifting operation, the cam 66 swings the carrier 63 on thevertical axis of the shaft 60, swinging the work out beyond the edge ofthe dial plate. The continued rotation of the shaft 74 causes the cam 89to lift the connected ends of the rotation of the shaft 74 drops thelfingers is taken directly on the portion 7 acting in.

the manner of a column; and the lateral extension 9 has only to carrytheweight of the turntable. Also the electrode where the work is done isthat one which-is closest to the arm 7, thus providing for the passageof 'the current through the shortest path.

The removal of the vwork is effected at the electrode B, Fig. 7. Theelectrode in position C will always be empty and the operator insertsnew .pieces at this or the next position. The turntable projects wellforward of the frame 59 of the machine so as to render easily accessiblethe stations at which the work is introduced and removed.'

The Welder can be run at a speed that` will weld u to twelve hundredpieces per hour, depending on the ability of the operator or operatorsto feed it. While only three stations are needed for, welding, removingand refilling, a larger number of stations is advantageous in givingtime for the work to cool and particularly for the electrodes to coolbefore they return to the weldin station. The current-carrying parts anparticularly the electrode carriers arealso cooled by water jackets orrecesses at suitable points as illustrated at 92 in Fig. 11.

If the shape of the welded article does not provide holes or shouldersthat are easily gripped by tongs or pick-out mechanism of the kindillustrated, an electromagnet may be substituted which is energizedand'deenergized to lift and drop the work. Such a magnet has theadditional advantage that it will pick out with the article the smallparticles of metal which will have burned off during the weld. To securethis operation I may also magnetize the mechanical fingers or similardevices. i vide in'addition a blast of airj to clean out the recess inthe electrode before insertingA 30, on the other end of which is apinion 94 driving a pinion 95 on an inclined shaft 96. This'shaft drivesa horizontal shaft 97 which drives a short vertical shaft98 operating aGeneva movement99 on the shaft 15 of the turntable 14 carrying the lowerelectrodes. y

In these figures therev are illustrated also the segments 1 and 2 in thelower electrodes Or I may proist thereof is driven from a bevel gear 102on the end of the horizontal shaft 97.

A magnetic pick-out is illustrated in Fig. 17. The slide 83 is operatedby the crank pin 90 as explained in connection with Fi 9. On the lowerend of the slide there 1s 'an iron yoke 103 supported from the slide bybrass links 104. A coil 105 is wound on the yoke and has its terminalsin circuit with a source of supply 106 and a switch 107 similar to thatof Fig. 12 and mounted on the same shaft 27. The sector of this switchis set at such an angle as to magnetize the yoke 103 when it is loweredinto contact with the welded product 3 and to demagnetize the sectorwhen the arm swings the product clear of the table.

Various other modifications may be made by those skilled in the artwithout departin ing claims.

What I claim is:

l. An electric Welding machine of the resistance type with oppositeelectrodes adapted to lit the opposite pieces of the work and to conveycurrent of large amperage thereto, said machine having a reci rocatingupper electrode and a horizonta turntable carrying a plurality of lowerelec-V trodes and means for indexing said turntable to bring said lowerelectrodes successively in line with the upper electrode.

2. A welding machine of the character described including in combinationa transformer, the secondary of which has a heavy vertical column with alateral extension, a rotatable electrode carrier supported on saidcolumn and-extension and carrying a number of electrodes adapted to bebrought in succession over said column as the carrier is ro tated and avertically reciprocating electrode in line with said column.

3. An electric welding machine including in combination a verticallyreciprocating upper electrode, a turntable carrying lower electrodesadapted to be brought in succession into line with the upper electrode,a transformer having a secondary with an arm on which the turntable issupported and bearing plates between the turntable and the arm of bronzeof two different compositions having good bearing qualities combinedwith good electrical conductivity.

4. A welding machineof the character described including in combinationa vertically reciprocating upper electrode, a turntable carrying lowerelectrodes adapted to be brought successively into line with the upperelectrode to effect the weld and mechamsm for lifting the weldedarticles from the lower electrodes in succession. f

5. A welding machine of the character described including in combinationa vertically reciprocating upper electrode, a turntable carrying lowerelectrodes adapted to be brought successively into line with the upperelectrode to effect the weld and mechanlsm for lifting the weldedarticles from the lower electrodes in succession, the welding stationbeing located within the main frame of the machine and the liftingstation being clear of said main frame.

6. A Welding machine of the character described including in combinationa vertically reciprocating upper electrode, a turntable carrying lowerelectrodes adapted to be brought successively into line with the upperelectrode to effect the weld and inagnetic and mechanical mechanism forremoving the molded article and any loose particles of metal from thelower electrodes in succession. v

7. An electric welding machine of the rcg sistance type with oppositeelectrodes adapt- -frorn the invention as defined in the followed to fitthe opposite pieces of the work and to convey current of large amperagethereto and means for pressing the electrodes toward each other underspring pressure at the beginning of the weld and pressing them togetherwith a rigid blow during the coinpletion of the weld and means forbringing successive electrodes in position for pressing together.

8. An electric weldingv machine of the rcsistance type with oppositeelectrodes adapted to fit the Opposite pieces of the work and to conveycurrent of large ainperage thereto, said machine having a reciprocatingelectrode and a turntable carrying a plurality of opposite electrodesand means for indexing said turntable to bring said electrodeslsuccessively in line with said reciprocating electrode.

9. An electric welding machine of the resistance type with oppositeelectrodes adapted to fit the opposite pieces of the work and to conveycurrent of large amperage thereto, said machine having a reciprocatingrelectrode and a means carrying a plurality of opposite electrodes andmeans for moving said carrying means to bring said electrodessuccessively in line with said reciprocating electrode.

10. An electric welding machine of' the rcsistance type with oppositeelectrodes adapted to fit the opposite pieces of the work and to conveycurrent of large amper-age theroto, said machine having a reciprocatingelectrode and a means carrying a plurality of opposite electrodes, meansfor moving said carrying means to bring said electrodes successively inlinewith said reciprocating eleclll trode and means for automaticallyremoving, welded articles from saidV electrodes after welding.

11. An electric weldin machine of the resistance type with oppos1teelectrodes adapted to fit the opposite pieces of the work andsuccessivel ment to .successively presentythe weldingl to convey thecurrent of large amperage thereto, said machine having a reciprocat# ingup er electrode and a turntable carrying a p urality of lower electrodesand means for indexing said turntable to bring said lower electrodessuccessively in line with the vupper electrode.

12. A1 weldin machine of theA character described inclu ing incombination a reciprocating 4upper electrode, a turntable carr ing lowerelectrodes adapted to be .broug t into line with the'upper e ectrodeu toe ect the weld and mechanism for moving the welded articles from thelower electrodes in succession.

by stepV movement to successively presentY the 'weldingelectrodes on thetable to thefirst mentioned weldin electrode.,v I y In witness whereo, Ihave hereunto signed my name. A.

. HENRY S. HOLMES..

13. An electric welding. machinehaving a reciprocating electrode adaptedto fit the opposite pieces of the Work and to convey current thereto, aplurality of complementary electrodes carrying work pieces to be welded,means for carrylng said second electrodes into and out of line with saidreciprocating electrode, and fingers movable to engage and lift the workpieces from one of said second electrodes when said electrode is out ofline with said reciprocating electrode.

14. A weldin machine of the character described inclu ing in combinationa reciprocating upper electrode, a turntable carrying lower electrodesadapted to draw successively into line with the up er electrode toeffect the weld and to then be removed out ofline with said upperelectrode, work engaging fingers, means for moving said yfm'- gers to aposition to engage a. work ieee in siad lower electrode out lof linewith said upper electrode, and means for moving said fingers intoengagement with a work piece when lowered into contact therewith.

to retain either 15. A Welding machine comprising a welding point, arotary table carrying a vplurality of work supporting devices eachprovided with a weldingpoint, and means vfor moving the table with stepby step movement to successively present the weldi points on the tableto the 'first mention 55 welding point.

16. Al welding machine 'comprisinga 'l welding point, a rotary tablecarrying a plurality of work supporting" devices veach provided -with awelding point, meansj'for moving the table with step byV step move I'points on. the table to the rst mentioned welding point, and meansforbringing welding points which are'in 'uxtapositioh toward each otherto effect w ding vin timed rela-

